Technical Progress Report IABIN INVASIVE SPECIES THEMATIC NETWORK CONTENT BUILDING PROJECT IMPLEMENT, UPDATE AND MAINTAIN AN I3N IAS DATABASE IN JAMAICA For the period May 19, 2006 -November 16, 2006 Submitted by Sean Townsend I3N Lead Jamaica Senior Research Officer-Ja-CHM & Dionne Newell IABIN Focal Point Senior Research Officer-Entomology Natural History Division Institute of Jamaica 10-16 East Street Kingston, Jamaica EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The IABIN Content-Building project for I3N Jamaica is the second IABIN project being administered and spearheaded by the Natural History Division (NHD) of the Institute of Jamaica. The project facilitates the improvement of the current database on invasive alien species found in Jamaica. The development of posters and brochures are additional components of the project that seek to increase the awareness of the general public on the presence and effects of alien invasives in Jamaica. These new materials will compliment the existing brochure that was produced in the pilot project in 2002. In addition, the educational materials to be produced would serve to better inform decision makers on matters concerning invasive alien species. Using the current standards and protocols developed by IABIN-I3N, the database contains to date, 24 species of which 23 are validated and 70 occurrences of which all are validated. Difficulties have included obtaining the raw data used to develop the original database. The main challenge is finding information on the impacts that invasives have on local biodiversity as well as obtaining specific details of introductions. The process of obtaining and inputting of data is becoming less challenging with increased usage of the database. Two posters and two brochures are being conceptualized with advice from the local Alien Invasive Species Working Group and are in draft format INTRODUCTION In 2001 Jamaica participated in a pilot project (I3N) initiated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS/BIO) where information on invasive alien species was gathered and exchanged among participating countries of the Americas. On completion of the project, some of the deliverables included the development of four databases namely: i. Invasive alien species ii. Experts involved in invasive species research and management iii. Invasive species projects iv. Available invasive species datasets. There was also the creation of a brochure on Jamaica’s invasive species. Since then, I3N has become one of the five IABIN Thematic Networks which aim to provide online data and information on invasive alien species in all IABIN participating countries thereby addressing the need for a regional network. The Institute of Jamaica, in it’s capacity as the coordinating institution (C.I.) for the Jamaican I3N database, answered the call to develop a project to increase update the content of pilot project’s database in compliance with the protocols and standards developed by IABIN. The project commenced in May 2006 and with an approved budget of US$ $26,610 (amended budget) of which US$10,000 funded by IABIN-I3N, and US $ 16,610 of matching funds contributed by the Institute of Jamaica. The project has the main focus of creating a national database on Invasive Alien Species. Using updated I3N standards, this would incorporate the existing database housed at the Institute of Jamaica as well as new information from various governmental and non-governmental organizations including the University of the West Indies. Information obtained would fill the current gaps that exist and this is vital for the proper management of Jamaican biodiversity, protected areas and other sensitive habitats. PROJECT OBJECTIVES Using standards developed by the IABIN-I3N thematic network, the project is aimed at providing high quality data on invasive alien species in all habitat types in Jamaica. The Institute of Jamaica, by means of its informatics facilities, will make the information gathered through the project freely available through the Jamaican I3N-IAS website hosted by the Jamaica Clearing House Mechanism. The main deliverables include the development of a comprehensive list of all known invasive species in Jamaica and the development of educational materials (posters and brochures.) EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES Following the first six months of the project implementation, it is expected that the database would be provided based on I3N standards in digital form, be submitted. This should include at least 20 invasive species with at least 40 validated records by subject experts, and draft versions of 2 posters and 2 brochures. It is also expected that published documents for educational and other purposes must recognize the role of IABIN and I3N and should include the respective logos. The participants of the project will also liaise on a regular basis with the local I3N lead, the members of the established local steering committee, IABIN-I3N Coordinating Institution and the IABIN National Focal Point. The project administrators will also communicate with local experts on invasive species, community groups and organizations involved in the research, control and management of invasive species. Participating in local invasive alien species workshops and meetings will also ensure that information relating to the IABIN-I3N project is communicated. METHODS EMPLOYED AND ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT Following the initial disbursement of funds, computer hardware (1 desktop and 1 laptop) to be used for data entry and field research, were purchased. This was followed by the hiring of a research assistant in September 2006. The research assistant is in the process of gathering metadata relating to invasive species in Jamaica guided by Schedule 7 of the Jamaica Wildlife and Protected Areas Act compiled by the Alien Invasive Working Group (AIWG). Subject experts and relevant literature from NHD and the University of the West Indies provided the initial metadata on selected species from schedule 7. This included re-entering the information from the previous database (pilot project 2002) as well as any new information acquired. A two-day workshop funded by the Institute of Jamaica was conducted in order to share information and experiences relating to invasive alien species and subsequent management practices. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Silvia Ziller and Dr. Sergio Zalba, developers of the new I3N database with members of the local AIWG in attendance (See Appendices 1 and 2). The workshop included presentations of Case studies specific to Jamaica. A meeting that was geared towards the use and development of the I3N database and web interface followed. In attendance were members of the Alien Invasive Working Group secretariat, the Information Technology Staff of the Institute of Jamaica, staff of the Jamaica-CHM and IABIN focal point. It was well attended and there was positive feedback from the facilitators as well all those in attendance. TABLE 1: PROPOSED MATRIX FOR THE JAMAICA IABIN-I3N CONTENT BUILDING PROJECT Activity vs. Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gap Analysis * Identification of Information * Sources Visits to institutions islandwide * * * * to acquire all information related to the IAS Formatting of data for IABIN * * * * and upload Production for Pub. Ed. Materials on IAS in Jamaica Plan and host end of project workshop Prepare and Submit quarterly * * technical and financial reports RESULTS To date, at least 24 species with 70 occurrences have been entered into the database (See Appendix 3). The target of 20 species with at least 40 occurrences has been exceeded and steps are being taken to acquire information from other organizations. Special effort is being made to incorporate some 30 invasive alien species not found in the original database. Summary of which is shown below (Table 2). TABLE 2: HABITS (LIFE FORMS) OF IAS DATABASE INPUTS FAUNA FLORA Habit Number Habit Number Mammal 1 Tree 3 Bird 1 Grass 9 Fish 4 Shrub 1 Mollusc 4 Cr ustacean 1 Draft copies of two posters and two brochures have been produced as stipulated (See Appendix 4). The first poster would highlight attractive flora and fauna and illustrations on the dangers they cause. Five plants and five animals have been identified. Information will include the scientific and common name, location of invasion and the impact that they have. Two Images per species will be used. The first would showcase the attractiveness of the species and the second would be used to visualize the impact of these species on various habitats. The species chosen are those that do not appear on any other material being produced by other organization in order to increase the amount of information that will be available to the public. The second poster will show the ecological, social and economic impacts of invasives. One brochure will highlight feral invasives found in Jamaica. This will show the effects of animals that have escaped captivity and the impacts they have on the environment and human life. The second will show the economic benefit that some of these invasives have provided many people. The project participants participated in a workshop hosted by Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) on Integrated Pest where IABIN- I3N database was presented as well as background information and activities of IABIN. This was done to introduce the database to the agricultural sector in the hope that the Caribbean initiative and Ministry will collaborate with IABIN-I3N in achieving its goals. Project participants also attended a meeting of the local alien invasive species working group comprising members from various government and non-government organizations. It was agreed that the I3N educational material to be produced will be supported by group members through comments and recommendations and will be distributed throughout various sectors such as agriculture, tourism and schools. LESSONS LEARNED PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS . • During the development of the database the information obtained reinforces the importance of a regional initiative in collating and sharing information on invasive species. This is largely due to the commonality of occurrences of adventive species across of the Caribbean and Latin America.